Funny How Times Change : VH vs U2

**snowdog** · 05.20.15, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by CaboChris

See, remastering 5150 and OU812, is another one of those things, that Ed could do, to please a significant portion of his fan base. The "loves both eras" fan.

This is something he could undertake, without anybody else being involved.

On second thought, what if it causes an uproar and GASP!! New fans find that this music kicks ass???

They might start clamoring for those songs to be played live...for future tours!!!

OH NOOOOOO!!!

I agree with that. It may not be practical to play those songs live any more but they need a proper remastered release anyway and this would be a way to show that Eddie hasn't just abandoned that era.

**japeape** · 05.20.15, 12:22 PM

This is not meant to be a dig, just an observation:

I work in a mall at a very "noble" bookstore (and, yes, i do go to "Orange Julius"
on my breaks)...

I'm the boss in our Music/DVD department, it's a fairly good sized one, and i see
what sells, doesn't sell, get's stolen, etc.

We get in all the classic VH albums, and sell them consistently.
The biggies are VHI, 1984 & Diver Down (surprisingly, DD keeps moving & getting
re-ordered).

DD, FW, II & WACF, are all always 4.99 (our 4.99 bin).

They sell, as well.

The only Sammy era we carry is 5150 & OU812, both also in the 4.99 bin.

I never sell those!

Maybe 1 copy of 5150 a year.

In a way, it surprises me, because those CD's had some hits.

Our store is in the middle of several hotels, so we get tons of tourists.
Tourists still buy CD's, lot's of them.

So maybe it's an international thing, because i sell a lot of those CVH era 4.99's to
people from the U.K., Germany & Japan.

**EDDIEVH** · 05.20.15, 04:28 PM

At the end of the day, while U2 deserve massive congrats for what they've done on the marketing front, and that they've managed to not majorly irritate a large majority of people, I congratulate them. However, musically, the are not fit to lick the spilled piss off of Eddie and Alex Van Halen's boots. They are the happy medium between the low of One Direction and the high of Van Halen.

**japeape** · 05.20.15, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by EDDIEVH

At the end of the day, while U2 deserve massive congrats for what they've done on the marketing front, and that they've managed to not majorly irritate a large majority of people, I congratulate them. However, musically, the are not fit to lick the spilled piss off of Eddie and Alex Van Halen's boots. They are the happy medium between the low of One Direction and the high of Van Halen.

Haha, they did with the recent iTunes/Apple fiasco!

Poor Bono thought he was doing a nice thing for the fans, but they ended up apologizing.
Then the new U2 album severely tanked.

I was shocked to see that, while Taylor Swift was selling out, no matter how many cases
we ordered.

**EDDIEVH** · 05.20.15, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by japeape

Haha, they did with the recent iTunes/Apple fiasco!

Poor Bono thought he was doing a nice thing for the fans, but they ended up apologizing.
Then the new U2 album severely tanked.

I was shocked to see that, while Taylor Swift was selling out, no matter how many cases
we ordered.

I agree this was highly hilarious and as they're now in their 50's, when the next record arrives, will they ever sell again or lose their mainstream record selling "credibility" as most older acts do?

**snowdog** · 05.20.15, 04:49 PM

U2 made 100 million dollars off it, I doubt they are that bothered. Apple, on the other hand screwed up big.

**EDDIEVH** · 05.20.15, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by snowdog

U2 made 100 million dollars off it, I doubt they are that bothered. Apple, on the other hand screwed up big.

For four clueless guys who went to school together in Ireland they've financially done admirably, musically, as you say, I'd assume they couldn't care less.

**japeape** · 05.20.15, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by EDDIEVH

I agree this was highly hilarious and as they're now in their 50's, when the next record arrives, will they ever sell again or lose their mainstream record selling "credibility" as most older acts do?

This last one seemed particularly painful for them to make.
Lots of stops & starts, rewrites, etc.

But the tour is selling out, as expected.

I'm thinking U2 are just gonna hit the road from now on, they have more than
enough material.

The money is in the concert circuit, so they may be thinking "why beat yourself up
over creating a new record that no one wants to hear?"

**snowdog** · 05.20.15, 05:10 PM

Well, maybe they'll change their minds after what happened, but at the time they were already talking about the next album to follow....

In a note on the group's website announcing Songs of Innocence, Bono hinted at a forthcoming follow-up album, Songs of Experience, that "should be ready soon enough".[

**RRvh1** · 05.20.15, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by Jack Panama

The Hagar albums would get a bump too if they'd just remaster the suckers. The Roth catalog has had multiple releases, but the Hagar albums have only ever been released once in the US.

I would gladly buy a newly-remastered 5150 and OU812 again (even though I've already bought 5150 3 times with the original CD, the 2005 Japanese Forever Young release, and the 192/24 Hi-Res version on Pono, and OU812 twice with the original CD and the 2005 Japanese Forever Young CD). I'm guessing I'm not alone as many music sites I visit often pine for updates of at least those two albums.

The Hagar albums should be remastered as well, IMO .
The whole catalog continues to sell, so much so , that the guys never need to 'work' again in their lives . It's only decent and fair that their prior albums (all of them) get the updated treatment .

Those Sammy albums helped pay the rent many times over...

**Wild Ranger** · 11.12.24, 03:43 AM

I don't dislike/hate U2 nor I'm a fan.
But U2 is one of the most POLARIZING bands on this planet, VH is far from that. They have tons of haters, way way more than VH.
They're kinda treated like "Nickelback of the 80's".

**Van Squalen** · 11.12.24, 08:48 AM

This thread is 10 years old, dude.

And you’re wildly off base. U2 is globally beloved. They are among the half dozen legacy acts like the Stones or McCartney that can stlll fill stadiums.

But good for you for using the search function lol,

**Jedi McFly** · 11.12.24, 08:58 AM

Right, U2 was still selling out stadium gigs in the 2010s. Regardless of any haters they've got, I wouldn't call them polarizing. Whatever hate they get is probably appropriately proportional to their success compared to other bands.

I'd say Van Halen gets more unwarranted hate from being (inappropriately, IMO) lumped together with general hair metal.

**Little Intruder** · 11.14.24, 03:51 PM

Whoa, what a funny thread. And look at all the old nics! I wonder what ever happened to them?

**Speedway** · 11.15.24, 05:16 AM

The other secret of the U2 success is their business model.

3. U2 and the Red Hot Chili Peppers divide royalties equally no matter what each person’s relative contribution. Most bands allocate royalties based on each person’s contribution, which can create problems as band members compete to get their songs on albums or to increase their relative contribution to each song. Hence the joke, “What was the last thing the drummer said before he was fired? ‘Hey guys, I’ve written a song!’” Once credit and money cloud band members’ judgment about the music, it can be difficult to maintain the high quality of a band’s product. U2 divides credit equally for the music (though not lyrics, which are mostly written by Bono) as do the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who "give it away" to anyone who was present on the jam that created the song. When songwriting credits are allocated equally, everyone in the band feels valued for their hard work and the interests of the songs prevail over personal agendas.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthbla...he-super-bowl/

No screwing the bassist out of his share for not contributing enough.

That matters when your band becomes a hedge fund which is what U2 now is.